LCMS President Harrison to address English District ConventionMeeting set for June 27-30 in St. Louis

ST. LOUIS, June 26, 2012—The Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison, president of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS), will be attending the LCMS English District Convention to bring greetings.

The convention is set for June 27-30 at the Sheraton Westport Hotel, St. Louis, Mo., meeting under the theme “Faith Driven—Future Focused.” Harrison will address the convention at 8:10 a.m. Thursday, June 28.

The LCMS English District encompasses 160 congregations with about 56,000 baptized members.

All 35 LCMS districts hold their triennial conventions this year — beginning with North Dakota's in January and ending with Central Illinois’ in July. The conventions offer opportunities for worship, nurture, inspiration, fellowship and the communication of vital information. They are the districts’ principal legislative assemblies, which amend the districts’ articles of incorporation and bylaws, consider and take action on reports and overtures, and handle appropriate appeals. Also, each convention will hold elections for president and other top officers.

Each district convention also will see a video presentation from Harrison’s office, called “Witness, Mercy, Life Together: Blessings – Challenges – Opportunities.” The video offers highlights of what the Lord is doing through the LCMS — through congregations, districts and the ministries headquartered at the LCMS International Center in St. Louis. The video spotlights ministry from the past 18 months — beginning when Harrison was elected president of the Synod — told through the lens of the emphasis of the church, “Witness, Mercy, Life Together.”

The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS), is a mission-oriented, Bible-based, confessional Christian denomination headquartered in St. Louis, Mo. Founded in 1847, the LCMS has about 2.3 million baptized members in more than 6,000 congregations and more than 9,000 pastors. Two seminaries and 10 colleges and universities operate under the auspices of the LCMS, and its congregations operate the largest Protestant parochial school system in America. The church broadcasts the saving message of Jesus Christ over KFUO Radio, and it has relationships and active mission work in 89 countries around the world. In the last five years, the LCMS has awarded more than $35 million through more than 900 domestic and international grants for emergency response and disaster relief. Today, the LCMS is in full doctrinal fellowship with 33 other confessional Lutheran church bodies worldwide and is a founding partner of Lutheran Services in America, a social ministry organization serving one in every 50 Americans. For more information, visit www.lcms.org.